Residents urge moratorium on West End lot‑size averaging; commissioners schedule workshop

Several West End residents told the Skamania County Board of Commissioners on April 8 that a zoning change adopted during the pandemic—lot-size averaging—conflicts with the West End Comprehensive Sub Area Plan and opens loopholes that could allow cluster developments the plan intentionally rejected.

Why it matters: residents and planning‑commission commenters said the West End plan contains clear thresholds and adjacency requirements (including a 60% infill threshold for certain smaller lots) that the lot-averaging rules do not respect. They asked the board to enact a moratorium so staff and the public can revise zoning text to restore consistency with the plan.

What residents said Keith Brown, a West End resident, gave two hypothetical examples to illustrate the claimed conflict. He said a landowner with 200 acres that is otherwise zoned for 10‑acre parcels could use lot averaging to carve multiple 5‑acre parcels into an area where 5‑acre parcels are not allowed by the West End plan. "The problem with that is I've just created a new 5‑acre zone in the middle of a large 10‑acre area, which is not allowed in the West End plan unless you go through a plan event," Brown said.

Theresa Robbins, speaking for the West End community, said the comprehensive plan represented three years of public engagement and explicit decisions to prohibit cluster developments: "We are asking that you enact a moratorium in the West End on lot size averaging to allow for the necessary time to amend the zoning text appropriately." She urged commission action and asked the board to use the statutory 60‑day hearing period the county code provides for moratoria.

Opposing view in public comment Another speaker, Stacy Patton, described herself as a property-rights advocate and said residents had opportunities to monitor planning meetings during the pandemic via Zoom; she said the board should wait for a regular comprehensive review rather than impose a moratorium immediately.

Board response and next steps Commissioners acknowledged the public comments and told staff they will place a planning workshop on lot-size averaging on an upcoming agenda (staff indicated a target of May 6 for a staff report and workshop). Planning staff said the application period for a vacant planning-commission seat closes April 16 and said the commission appointment could affect representation in subsequent reviews.

No moratorium motion or vote occurred at the April 8 meeting; the item will return for staff analysis and a public workshop before the board considers any ordinance or temporary moratorium.